http://mmajunkie.comNext week in the Strikeforce Challengers 20 headliner, Antwain Britt returns from a yearlong layoff while hoping to snap a two-fight losing skid with his debut in a new weight class.

Prior to the break from MMA, he admits a busy schedule had him suffering from burnout.

But time away from the sport did him well, and he recently told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio) he’s heading into Friday’s Showtime-televised event with a renewed sense of passion.

Britt (11-5 MMA, 1-2 SF), a former heavyweight and light heavyweight, meets middleweight Lumumba Sayers (4-2 MMA, 0-1 SF) on Nov. 18 at The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. Both fighters are coming off losses, but officials are confident they can deliver for what will be 2011’s final Challengers show.

“I really needed that time off,” said Britt, who had a June bout with Danillo Villefort canceled when both fighters suffered injuries. “Honestly this is the most excited I’ve been for a fight since I fought Antonio Mendes (at Shine Fights 1). You talk to fighters, and it’s hard to keep that hunger (and) that motivation once you start getting a name for yourself and so many other things come along.”

For Britt, those other things were business ventures, most notably his company A Squared Training Systems, which teaches self defense and close combat to the military, law-enforcement and private sectors. Britt, a former football player who’s also boxed professionally, admits the business proved a drag on his MMA career.

“When I first signed with Strikeforce I had some good fights … but I had so much going on,” said Britt, who knocked out Scott Lighty in his promotional debut before losses to notables Rafael Cavalcante and Ovince St. Preux. “Businesses in their infancy need to be nurtured. I just saw less of a priority for MMA at the time.”

His loss to the fast-rising St. Preux was especially tough, and he wanted to temporarily shake free of the grind. So he took some time away from the sport to recharge. He said his plan has worked perfectly.

“After the loss, I kind of wanted to step away for a while,” he said. “I wanted to explore some of these other avenues. Now the companies have grown to be more self-sufficient, so now my focus on MMA is re-energized. I just have so much more motivation now. I love to be in the gym now. I don’t see it as a job. I see it is something I want to do and something I’m good at.”

Britt got extra motivation this week when a friend texted him a photo. It showed the marquee outside the Palms, and right there on the billboard that has advertised some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry was Britt’s picture.

“I had no idea the billboard was up,” he said. “He was pretty excited, and yeah, I was geeked out a little bit by it too. I was ready to get to work anyway. But that was a little extra motivation.”

Britt, a 33-year-old based out of Virginia, will fly across the country for his return to the cage. He’s confident it’s the job he wants, and he now has the stability he needs to focus solely on the task at hand. He said it’s the perfect fight at the perfect time in the perfect weight class.

“I’m just refocused,” he said. “Getting down to 185 was a big tool to help me get refocused. I’ve been ready to do some work for a long-ass time. Now it’s time to get it done.”

MMAjunkie.com Radio broadcasts Monday-Friday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) live from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino’s Race & Sports Book. The show is hosted by Gorgeous George, MMAjunkie.com lead staff reporter John Morgan and producer Goze. For more information or to download past episodes, go to www.mmajunkie.com/radio.

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